As the 2025 holiday season approaches, consumer optimism is tempered by financial caution. Katapult’s new report, Holiday Spending in 2025: Trends, Tensions & Takeaways, surveyed nearly 3,000 U.S. consumers to understand how shoppers plan to spend this year. Cautious Consumers, Strategic Spending As the 2025 holiday season approaches, 73% of
You don’t need another research firm telling you what happened last quarter. You need a heads-up on what’s coming so you can buy smarter, staff smarter, and market smarter. That’s where Zelman, a Walker & Dunlop company, comes in. Now an HFA Solution Partner, Zelman is bringing its industry-leading housing
Simple, powerful leadership principles that drive performance and engagement on the sales floor and beyond. Whether you’re managing a large retail floor, a regional chain of home furnishings stores, or a small family-owned business, the demands on today’s retail leaders have never been greater. Between staffing challenges, customer expectations, and
Every retail furniture store has that one sales associate—charismatic, confident, and consistently at the top of the leaderboard. Their closing ratio is impressive, their product knowledge is unmatched, and customers often ask for them by name. Naturally, this top performer seems the perfect choice when it’s time to fill a
In a business where visual storytelling is everything, furniture retailers and manufacturers are increasingly turning to AI image generation to improve how they work and sell. While AI has made headlines for writing content or automating customer support, its most transformative impact in the home furnishings space may be in
Why Generative AI Is Becoming a Must on the Sales Floor Retailers today are surrounded by data, but getting clear answers takes too long. At Evoneer, we’re building a new layer for modern retail work: a unified platform of generative AI copilots that make operations smarter, faster, and more connected.
Returns in the furniture industry can be complex, costly, and a major source of customer frustration. Whether it’s a damaged table on delivery or a customer claiming a sofa was never received, furniture retailers are caught between maintaining margins and meeting rising service expectations. Fortunately, smart technology now offers a
Differentiation is key in today’s competitive home furnishings market. Furniture retailers increasingly turn to private labeling and exclusive product partnerships with manufacturers as strategic tools to stand out, build brand equity, and improve margins. For store owners, general managers, and buyers alike, the opportunity to offer something your competitors can’t
In furniture retail, success hinges on a balance of time-tested strategies and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing market. Effectively closing sales requires a deep understanding of customer behavior, strategic follow-up, and the right mix of technology and training. Rob Ball, owner of over 26 furniture store locations and
The NEW Buyer Journey: Digital and On-Demand The days of quick, impulse-driven furniture purchases are long gone. Today’s consumer expects instant clarity, confidence, and even control from the products and companies they choose to invest their hard-earned money with. If your website doesn’t deliver—especially on the product page—the sale stalls.
The Home Furnishings Association (HFA) has announced that Peter Theran will be its next Chief Executive Officer effective September 1,
A 50-day study on furniture imports that could reshape the competitive landscape for U.S. retailers. While details remain limited, the
HFA Monitoring Impact and Gathering Intel Details are beginning to be released of the recent White House announcements of planned
“We need to talk.” Those four words can be intimidating in any relationship. In family-run furniture businesses, they can feel
An important policy announcement that could directly impact your business. On September 25, President Trump announced on Truth Social that,
Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today The long-term success of every retail business depends on one thing: its people. Preparing the next generation of leaders isn’t
Navigating Leadership in a Family Business Stepping into greater responsibility within a family business comes with unique opportunities—and its own set of challenges. From
The long-term success of every retail business depends on one thing: its people. Preparing the next generation of leaders isn’t
MEMBER-ONLY DISCUSSION: Family Business Dynamics Connect with fellow HFA member retailers to exchange insights, challenges, and successes in navigating family
